Toy horse



1940- A. J. MIDDLER EI'AL 2,224,689

TOY HORSE Filed Dec. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY George L.Barf0/1ATTORNEY.

Dec. 10, 1940. 1 MIDDLER EI-AL 2,224,689

TOY HORSE Filed Dec. 5, 1938 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS fl/ezarroer GKMid/er- BY Gear'ge far/0 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 PATENT OFFICE TOY HORSE Alexander J. Middler andGeorge L. Barton, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243,691

10 Claims.

This invention relates to toy vehicles embodying means actuated by therider for propelling the same and has for its primary object to providetoy vehicle propelling means which is operated'by shifting of the weightof a rider to and from seat and foot rest members alternately.

Another object is to provide a wheeled toy having the appearance of ananimal, preferably a horse, and propelling means therefor actuated byalternately subjecting the body and the stirrups to the weight of therider.

Another object is to provide a toy with crank actuated propelling wheelshaving one crank actuated by placing the weight of the rider on a seatmember and another crank actuated by placing the weight of the rider ona foot rest.

Another object is to provide a toy vehicle having crank actuatedpropelling wheels, as above mentioned, and means operable by movement ofthe foot rest for moving the cranks from a dead center position, inorder that movement of the toy may be initiated without pushing thesame, as by the foot on the floor.

Another object is to provide a toy having a steer wheel and meansextending through the neck and terminating in a bit-like element at themouth of a horse simulating body for actuating the steering wheel forsteering purposes. More particularly, the steering wheel is supported bya fork, and the body of the toy moves relative to the fork uponactuation of the propelling means. The head and neck portions are rigidwith respect to the main body portion, and in order to provide steeringmeans operable from the head portion in the presence of such bodymovements, it is necessary to provide a flexible connection between thefork and the bit-like element. Accordingly, a further object is toprovide a simple and inexpensive flexible connection for this purpose.

Other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent asreference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein our invention isillustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the present toy,

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken respectively on the lines 2-2 and 33 ofFig. 1,

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections illustrating the bitlike steering actuator,

Fig. 6 is a section of the flexibleconnection,

Fig. 7 is a section illustrating the crank and connecting rodconnection, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical sections illustrating a modified propellingmeans.

More particularly, I designates a hollow body shaped to resemble thebody of a horse. Within the hollow body is a frame comprising a bracket2 supporting a substantially vertical pivot pin 3 upon which a forkmember 4 is mounted. In the lower end of the fork 4 is rotatably mounteda wheel 5, and fixed to the upper end is a substantially U-shapedbracket 6 which forms part of a flexible connection. Secured to andextending between the two arms of the U-shaped bracket is a flexiblestrip I, preferably formed of leather, and secured to the leather strip1 is a metal bar 8.

The metal bar8 extends upwardly through the neck portion 9 of the bodyand is bentforwardly at Ill whereby it extends through the head portionto a point adjacent the mouth. The forwardly extending portion Illloosely engages a pivot pin II and at its forward end has a tubularelement I2 rigidly secured thereto. A pin I3, similar to a bit, isgrooved between its ends as at I4 and is retained in the tubular portionby a cotter pin I5. The reins I6 are attached to opposite ends of thepin I3.

Extending rearwardly from the bracket 2 are two frame members I! whichrotatably support the rear axle I8 upon which the two rear wheels I9 aremounted. The rear axle I 8 has two cranks 20 and a central crank 2I, thetwo cranks 29 being connected by rods 22 to the body I by pivot pins 23.

Extending transversely of the body I is a rod 24, supported by thebracket 2, and upon which the body I is pivoted by brackets 25. Alsopivoted upon the rod 24 are two rearwardly extending bars 26 whose rearextremities are connected by the rods 2'! to the crank 2|. The means forsecuring the rods 22 and 21 to their respective cranks is identical, andis shown in Fig. 7. As shown, the rod 22 is bent about the crank 20 anda fiber block 28 is secured between the bent end 29 and the main portion.of the rod.

Depending from the bars 26 are two links 30 which support stirrups 3|,the two links being united by a cross member 32. A rod 33, connected tothe cross piece 32 by rubber pads 34 is connected to a similar crosspiece 35 on the connecting rods 27 by similar rubber pads 36. Obviously,springs of other forms may be substituted for the rubber pads 34 and 36if desired.

In operation, the weight of a rider placed upon the body I istransmitted through the connecting I rods 22 to the cranks 20, thusmoving the cranks 20 to their lower dead center and the crank 2| to itsupper dead center. The rider then pushes forwardly on the stirrups 3|and through the rod '33 a forward thrust is exerted on the consupport aate alternately,

necting rods 21 to move the crank 2| over dead center. The weight of therider is then placed on the stirrups and is transmitted through thepivoted bars 26 and connecting rods 21 to exert a downward thrust on thecrank 2|. As the crank 21 moves downwardly, the body I pivots upwardlyabout the rod 24, and as the cranks 20 pass their upper dead center therider again shifts his weight to the body I. After the toy is in motion,alternate shifting of the weight of the rider from the body to thestirrups sustains such movement.

The crank actuating means illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is such that whenthe crank operated by the body is in its lowermost dead center position,the crank operated by the stirrups has passed its upper dead center, andwhen the crank operated by the stirrups is in its lowermost dead centerposition the crank connected to the body has passed its upper deadcenter position.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the body la and the stirrup supporting links 25a aresupported by a common pivot pin 24a carried by the frame Ila. The outerend of the link 26a is connected by a connecting rod 21a. to a crank 2la on the crankshaft 18a. The body la is connected by a connecting rod22a to a crank 28a, the point of attachment 23a. between the body andthe rod 22a being the same distance from the pivot 24a as is thedistance between the pivot and the point of attachment of the connectingrod 21a to the link 25a. The connecting rods 22a and 21a are of equallength.

As shown in Fig. 8, movement of the body In to its lowermost positionresults in movement of the crank 20a to its lowermost dead centerposition, at which time the crank 2 la is moved past its upper deadcenter. In Fig. 9 the link 26a is shown in its lowermost dead centerposition, at which time the crank 20a has passed its upper dead center.

A modified form of steering mechanism is also shown in Figs. 8 and 9, inwhich a bit-like element l2a, having reins Hia connected thereto ispivoted on the element I la in the head portion of the body. A flexibleshaft 8a connects the element lila with the front wheel fork 4a..

It is apparent, of course, that the propelling mechanism above describedmay readily be employed in conjunction with other types of toy vehicles,but it has particular utility in the type of toy here described. Inalternately shifting the weight from the body to the stirrups, the riderof the toy simulates the movements of an equestrian, with the resultthat the appeal of the toy to a juvenile is greatly'enhanced.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various changes may be made withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention and such changes are contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A wheeled toy comprising a body adapted to person and stirrups forreceiving the feet of a person, a crank shaft having opposed cranksconnected to at least onewheel of the toy, means connecting one crank onsaid shaft to said body for actuation by a weight on said body,-andmeans connecting said stirrups to another crank on said shaft foractuation by a weight on said stirrups, said two means being correlatedtopperand means actuated by said stirrups for moving said cranks pastdead center.

2. A toy vehicle comprising a frame, wheels supporting said frame, acrank shaft connected to at least one of said wheels, a seat memberpivotally mounted on said frame and having its swinging end connected toone of the cranks on said crank shaft, a foot rest, and a support forsaid foot rest, said support having one end pivotally connected to saidframe for swinging movement about an axis coaxial with the pivot of saidbody and its other end connected to a crank on said crank shaft.

3. A toy vehicle comprising a frame, wheels supporting said frame, acrank shaft connected to at least one of said wheels, a seat memberpivotally mounted on said frame and having its swinging end connected toone of the cranks on said crank shaft, a foot rest, a support for saidfoot restfsaid support having one end pivotally connected to said frameand its other end connected to a crank on said crank shaft, theconnections of the seat member and the foot rest with the cranks beingcorrelated to provide alternate operation thereof, and means operable bymovement of said foot rest for moving said cranks past dead center.

4. A toy vehicle comprising a frame, wheels supporting said frame, acrank shaft having opposed cranks connected to at least one of saidwheels, a body mounted on said frame and adapted to receive a rider,means connecting said body with one of said cranks whereby a weightthereon tends to move said crank, stirrups mounted on said frame, meansconnecting the stirrups to the other crank whereby a weight thereontends to move said crank, said two means being correlated to operatealternately, and means operable by said stirrups for moving said cranksover dead center.

5. A toy vehicle comprising a frame supported by wheels, a crank shaftconnected to at least one of said wheels, a body pivoted on said frame,means connecting the swinging end of said body with one of the cranks onsaid shaft, a lever pivoted on said frame with its pivot co-axial withthe body pivot, means connecting the free end of said lever to anothercrank on said shaft, and stirrups connected to said lever.

6. A toy'vehicle comprising a frame supported by wheels, a crank shaftconnected to at least one of said wheels, a body pivoted on said frame,means connecting the swinging end of said body with one of the cranks onsaid shaft, a link pivoted on said frame with its pivot co-aXial withthe body pivot, means connecting the free end of said link to anothercrank on said shaft, stir- .rups pivotally connected to said link, and aresiliently extensible connection between said stirrups and said lastnamed means for pivoting said last named means to move the crank towhich it is attached past dead center.

'7. A vehicle having wheels, a crank shaft having opposed cranksattachedto at least one of said wheels, a foot rest member pivoted on saidvehicle, a connecting rod connecting said foot rest with one of saidcranks, a body pivoted on said vehicle in coaxial relation with the.pivot of said foot rest, and a connecting rod connecting said body withthe other crank, said second connecting roddisposed at an angle suchthat its crank is at lower dead center when the first crank has passedupper dead center.

8. A vehicle having wheels, a crank shaft having opposed cranks attachedto at least one of said wheels, a foot rest member pivoted on saidvehicle, a connecting rod connecting said foot rest with one of saidcranks, abodyopivoted on 2,224,689 said vehicle, and a connecting rodconnecting said.

body with the other crank, said second connecting rod disposed at anangle such that the normal weight of said body rotates the crank shaftto position the first crank past dead center.

9. A toy vehicle comprising a frame having a wheel mounted for steeringmovement and a shaft having cranks and wheels thereon, the cranks onsaid shaft being 180 apart, a toy body pivotally mounted on said frame,a link having one end pivotally connected to said body at a point remotefrom the point where the body is pivotally mounted on the frame andhaving its other end connected to one of said cranks, a lever pivotallyconnected to said frame and swingable about an axis coaxial with thebody pivot, a link having one end connected to the swinging end of saidlever and having its other end connected to the other of said cranks,the distance from the body and link pivots to the points of connectionof respective links being substantially equal, and a foot rest connectedto said lever.

10. A toy vehicle comprising a frame having a wheel mounted for steeringmovement and a shaft having cranks and Wheels thereon, the cranks onsaid shaft being 180 apart, a toy body pivotally mounted on said frame,a link having one end pivotally connected to said body at a point remotefrom the point where the body is pivotally mounted on the frame andhaving its other end connected to one of said cranks, a lever pivotallyconnected to said frame and swingable about an axis coaxial with thebody pivot, a link having one end connected to the swinging end of saidlever and having its other end connected to the other of said cranks,the distance from the body and link pivots to the points of connectionof respective links being such and the length of said links being suchthat when either crank is in its lower dead center position the line ofaction of the link connected to the other crank passes in front of thepoint of contact of the wheel with the ground to provide a turningmovement sufficient to propel the vehicle, and a foot rest connected tosaid lever.

I ALEXANDER J. MIDDLER.

GEORGE L. BARTON.

